Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: IND~Y~RT~ WRENCHES
TECHNICA~ FIELD
The invention relates to wrenches to which other tools,
such as sockets, crowfoot-type wrenches, and the like, are
connected for use in tightening and loosening nuts and bolts.
DT~TO~URE OF THE INVENTION
A ratchet wrench including a preferred embodiment of the
invention comprises a ratchet head, a connecting pin, and a
handle. The ratchet head includes a conventional ratchet
system for rotating a shank about an axis. A conventional
socket or an open-end or closed-end crowfoot-type wrench can
be connected to the shank.
The generally cylindrical connecting pin is aligned along
an axis parallel to the shank axis and attached to the ratchet
head. The connecting pin extends throu~h a splined orifice in
the handle, thereby connecting the handle to the ratchet head.
A portion of the connecting pin includes splines adapted to
engage the orifice splines in a complementary manner to prevent
rotation of the handle about the connecting pin axis; and an
indented portion of the connecting pin is adapted to allow the
handle to rotate freely about the connecting pin axis.
The handle is slidable between a locked position and a
unlocked position on the connecting pin. In the locked
position, the handle orifice is disposed about the splined
portion of the connecting pin, the orifice splines engage the
connecting pin splines, and the ratchet wrench can be used to
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rotate a nut or bolt in a conventional manner. In the unlocked
position, the handle orifice is disposed about the indented
portion of the connecting pin and the ratchet head can rotate
in a full circle about the connecting pin axis. This allows
the ratchet wrench to be used to rapidly rotate a nut or bolt
by moving the handle in a reciprocating manner.
When a nut or bolt to be rotated by the ratchet wrench is
near an obstruction, the handle can be unlocked, rotated about
the connecting pin axis, then locked, thereby adjusting the
angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle and the
longitudinal axis of the ratchet head. In many instances, such
angular adjustment allows the ratchet wrench to be used to
rotate the nut or bolt in the conventional manner while
avoiding contact between the handle and the obstruction.
The construction of a ratchet wrench including an second
embodiment of the invention is quite similar to that of the
ratchet wrench of the preferred embodiment. However, in the
second embodiment, the handle orifice is smooth; that is, it
lacks the splines of the preferred embodiment. Also, the
portions of the connecting pin on which the handle orifice is
disposed in the locked and unlocked positions are smooth.
Splines are provided on a generally circular surface at the end
of the handle. When the handle is in the locked position, the
handle splines engage complimentary splines on a rear surface
of the ratchet head, and the ratchet wrench can be used in a
conventional manner. When the handle is in the unlocked
position, it is free to rotate about the connecting pin and,
thus, the ratchet head. As with the ratchet wrench of the
preferred embodiment, the handle of the ratchet wrench can be
adjusted relative to the longitt~;n~l axis of the ratchet head
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to allow the ratchet wrench to be used to tighten or loosen a
nut or bolt near an obstruction while avoiding contact between
the wrench and the obstruction.
A breaker bar including a third embodiment of the
invention comprises a handle and a connecting pin. As with the
preferred embodiment of the invention, the handle of the
breaker bar includes a splined orifice at one end. The
connecting pin includes a smooth portion, a splined portion,
and a conventional shank. When the handle orifice is
positioned about the smooth portion of the connecting pin (the
"unlocked position"), the handle is free to rotate about the
connecting pin. When the handle orifice is positioned about
the splined portion of the connecting pin (the "locked
position"), the handle orifice splines and connecting pin
splines engage, thereby preventing rotation of the connecting
pin. When a crowfoot-type wrench is connected to the shank,
the handle can be moved to the unlocked position to allow the
angular relationship between the crowfoot-type wrench and the
handle to be adjusted.
BRIEF DE8r~TPTION OF THE DRaWING8
Three wrenches embodying the invention will be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a partial, exploded side view of a ratchet
wrench including the preferred embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial top view of the ratchet wrench of Fig.
1 with the connecting pin cap cut away;
Fig. 3 is a partial, exploded side view of a ratchet
wrench including a second embodiment of the invention;
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Fig. 4 is a partial top view of the ratchet wrench of Fig.
3;
Fig. 5 is a partial, exploded side view of a breaker bar
including a third embodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 6 is a top view of the breaker bar of Fig. 5.
MODE8 FOR CARRYING OUT THE lNV " ~ ON
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a ratchet wrench 11 which
includes a preferred embodiment of the invention. The ratchet
wrench 11 comprises a ratchet head 13, a connecting pin 15, and
a handle 17. The ratchet head 13 is provided with a
conventional ratchet system which includes a shank 19 and a
ratchet direction selector 21. The ratchet direction selector
21 can be positioned to cause the shank 19 to drive a connected
socket (not shown) clockwise or counterclockwise about the
shank axis 23.
From top to bottom in Fig. 1, the generally cylindrical
connecting pin 15 comprises a radially exten~;ng cap 25, an
indentation 27, upper splines 29, an annular groove 31, and
lower splines 33. A spring-loaded detent ball 35 is provided
in the connecting pin 15 at the juncture of the indentation 27
and the upper splines 29.
An integral arm 37 ext~n~;ng from the ratchet head 13 is
provided with an orifice 39 having splines 41 adapted to engage
the lower connecting pin splines 33 in a complementary manner.
In the assembled ratchet wrench 11, the lower connecting pin
splines 33 engage the arm orifice splines 41, a retaining ring
43 installed in the connecting pin groove 31 abuts an upper
surface 45 of the arm 37, and a screw 47 engaged in a threaded
orifice 49 in the connecting pin 15 abuts a lower surface 51
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of the arm 37. As a result, the connecting pin 15 is attached
to the arm 37 and aligned along an axis 53 that is parallel to
the shank axis 23. Those skilled in the art will appreciate
that the connecting pin 15 can be attached to the arm by other
means, such as by press-fitting or adhesively bonding the arm
orifice splines 41 and the connecting pin lower splines 33,
thereby eliminating the need for the groove 31, retaining ring
43, screw 47, and connecting pin orifice 49.
An orifice 55 in an end 57 of the handle 17 adjacent to
the ratchet head arm 37 is provided with splines 59, an upper
chamfer 61, and a lower chamfer 63. In the assembled ratchet
wrench 11, the handle orifice 55 is installed on the connecting
pin 15 and is axially slidable thereon between an upper...ost
position and a lowermost position on the connecting pin 15.
The connecting pin cap 25 and the ratchet head arm 37 cooperate
to retain the handle end 57 on the connecting pin 15.
The detent ball 35 acts to retain the handle 17 in the
uppermost and lowermost positions on the connecting pin 15.
The upper and lower chamfers 61, 63, in combination with an
appropriate spring load on the detent ball 35, allow the handle
17 to be moved easily between the uppermost and lowermost
positions on the connecting pin 15.
When the handle 17 is in the uppermost position on the
connecting pin 15, the handle orifice 55 is disposed about the
connecting pin indentation 27. The diameter of the indentation
27 is slightly less than the inside diameter handle orifice
splines 59. Hence, the handle 15 is free to rotate about the
connecting pin 15 ("unlocked"). A stepup 65 in the handle 17
provides vertical clearance between the handle 17 and the
ratchet direction selector 21, allowing the ratchet head 13 to
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rotate in a complete circle about the connecting pin 15. When
the handle 17 is moved in a reciprocating manner, the ratchet
shank 19 and attached socket (not shown) rotate about the
ratchet shank axis 23. As a result, the handle 17 can be moved
in a reciprocating manner to rapidly spin a nut or bolt (not
shown) on or off of a mating member (not shown). If an
obstruction 67 prevents movement of the ratchet head 13 in a
full circle, a combination of reciprocating handle motion and
the action of the ratchet system will rotate a nut or bolt
somewhat less rapidly, but more rapidly than with conventional
ratchet action.
When the handle 17 is in the lowermost position on the
connecting pin 15, the handle orifice 55 is disposed about the
upper connecting pin splines 29 and the handle orifice splines
59 engage the upper connecting pin splines 29, thereby
preventing rotation of the handle 17 about the connecting pin
15. This allows the wrench 11 to be used in the conventional
manner to drive the shank 19.
The angle between the longitudinal axis 69 of the handle
17 and the longitudinal axis 71 of the ratchet head 13 can be
adjusted through an angle A of 180 degrees by unlocking the
handle 17, rotating it about the connecting pin 15 to the
desired position, then relocking it. This allows the ratchet
wrench 11 to be used in instances in which an obstruction 67
prevents use of a conventional ratchet wrench. In this
embodiment of the invention, there are 24 upper connecting pin
splines 31, allowing the handle 17 to be locked in 13 different
angular positions.
While the upper connecting pin splines 29 and the
complementary handle orifice splines 59 provide the angular
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adjustment means in the preferred embodiment, it is to be
understood that this aspect of the invention is not limited to
members having splined cross sections. For example, virtually
any regular polygonal cross-section could be used to perform
the angular adjustment function.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a ratchet wrench 111 which
includes second embodiment of the invention. As with the
preferred embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, a ratchet wrench 111
comprises a ratchet head 113 connected to a handle 115 by a
connecting pin 117. Similarly, an orifice 119 is provided in
the end of the handle 115 adjacent to the ratchet head 113, and
an integral arm 121 extending from the ratchet head 113 is
provided with an orifice 123. In this embodiment of the
invention, the handle and ratchet head orifices 119, 123 are
smooth, unlike the splined orifices 39, 55 of the preferred
embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
From top to bottom in Fig. 3, the cylindrical connecting
pin 117 includes a radially-ext~n~;ng cap 125, a spring-loaded
ball 127, and an annular groove 129. Except for the cap 125
and the groove 129, the diameter of the connecting pin 117 is
conslanl aiong its length.
The handle orifice 119 is sized to provide a sliding fit
with the connecting pin 117, and the ratchet head orifice 123
is sized to provide a press fit with the connecting pin 117.
When the ratchet wrench 111 is assembled, the handle orifice
119 is positioned on the connecting pin 117 above the
connecting pin groove 129, and a ret~;n;ng ring 131 is
installed in the groove 129. The connecting pin 117 is then
press-fitted into the ratchet head orifice 123 until the
retaining ring 131 abuts the upper surface of the ratchet head
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arm 121. Finally, a screw 133 installed in a threaded orifice
135 in the lower end of the connecting pin 117 abuts the lower
surface of the ratchet head arm 121.
When the handle 115 is in the lowermost position on the
connecting pin 117 (below the spring-loaded ball 127), splines
137 on the end of the handle 115 engage complimentary splines
139 on a rear surface the ratchet head 113, thereby preventing
rotation of the handle 115 about the connecting pin 117. AS
best seen in Fig. 6, the end of the handle 115 is generally
circular, and the handle splines 137 extend approximately 280
degrees. The surface of the ratchet head 113 which contains
the ratchet head splines 139 iS arcuate and mates with
approximately 90 degrees of the handle splines 137. When the
handle 115 is in the uppermost position on the connecting pin
117 (above the spring-loaded ball 127), the handle 115 is free
to rotate about the axis 141 of the connecting pin 117. Hence,
when the handle 115 is in the uppermost position, it is
"unlocked" from the ratchet head 113, and when the handle 113
is in the lowermost position it is "locked" to the ratchet head
113. Thus, as with the preferred embodiment, the handle 115
of this embodiment can be adjusted through an angle of 180
degrees relative to the longitudinal axis 141 of the ratchet
head 113.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a breaker bar 211 which includes
a third embodiment of the invention. The breaker bar 211
comprises a handle 213 and a connecting pin 215. The
connecting pin 215 includes a radially-ext~ ;ng cap 217, a
smooth upper portion 219, a splined portion 221, and a spring-
loaded ball 223, and a conventional shank 225. An orifice 227
having splines 229 which compliment the connecting pin splines
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221 is provided in the end of the handle 213. The connecting
pin splines 221 and the handle splines 229 are sized to allow
the connecting pin 215 to slide axially through the handle
orifice 227. When the wrench 211 is assembled, the connecting
pin 215 passes through the handle orifice 227 and a ret~;n;ng
ring 231 engages a groove 233 between the shank 225 and the
connecting pin splines 221. The retaining ring 231 prevents
the connecting pin 215 from being pushed upwardly out of the
handle orifice 227.
As with the ratchet wrench 11 shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when
the handle orifice 227 is in the uppermost position on the
connecting pin 215, the handle 213 is free to rotate about the
connection pin 215. When the handle 213 is in positioned over
the connecting pin splines 221, the handle 213 and the
connecting pin 215 are locked in position relative to the axis
235 of the connecting pin. As shown in Fig. 6, this allows
angular adjustment between a conventional crowfoot-type wrench
237 and the handle 213 through an angle B of 360 degrees.
While three wrenches embodying the invention have been
shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
this art that various modilication~luay be made ~o the wrenches
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For that reason, the scope of the invention is set forth in the
following claims.
